New-born Jaundice

New born babies having jaundice is very common. Almost 60 % babies develop jaundice within few days of birth. Most of us as a parent worry if our baby develops jaundice. Majority of time the jaundice not harmful to the baby and they do need any treatment. Jaundice can be divided in two types for our simple understanding- 1. Not harmful also called physiological jaundice. Common. 2. Harmful or pathological. Not common.

Why do babies get Jaundice ?

Let us go to very basic- We all have red blood cells in our blood. When this red blood cells contain Haemoglobin. When RBCs breaks down- Haemoglobin also breaks down and Bilirubin is liberated. Bilirubin is the yellow pigment, as it increased in our blood and body it gives yellow discolouration to various parts of our body. We call this Jaundice. It gets more interesting the bilirubin has two different types- 1. Direct bilirubin - this one is water soluble and gets out of our body through urine.

2. Indirect Bilirubin- this is the component which is causing the Jaundice in Babies. This does not dissolve in water and that is why does not get out of body easily. Now up to certain level it does not cause any problem. But if it goes above a particular level then there is a danger of damage to brain. That is why doctors will attempt to give treatment to bring the levels down to prevent brain damage.